May 31, 2023

Socialist democracy, vocational entrepreneurship, best way for Africa – Sumney

Accra, May 31, GNA- Dr Kodjoe Sumney, a cleric, says Africa would have accelerated economic transformation if the Continent practiced socialist democracy with focus on vocational education and entrepreneurship. Citing China as an example, Dr Sumney made a case for what he called ‘whole process people’s democracy’, involving all units of the population, and said that must be coupled with technical and vocational training to provide a launchpad for accelerated economic growth for Africa. Dr Sumney, the President of Missions Africa Incorporated, a Christian nonprofit humanitarian organisation, said: ‘It is a model of socialist democracy that covers all aspects of the democratic process and all sectors of society. It is a true democracy that works. ‘China is not a cruel and primitive country like we have been made to believe. Under communism. China Today 1978- 2023. 45 years has lifted 800 million out poverty (10 %) economic growth yearly in all sectors. China had 60 billionaires below the age of 40, this year 14 of them, joined the billionaire club for the first time in 2020. ‘The uptick mirrors a wider unprecedented surge in the fortunes of China’s urban wealthy, with the country now home to 878 billionaires with a combined wealth of $4 trillion. A decade ago in 2010, the country counted just 189 billionaires.’ Speaking at this year’s African Union Day Commemoration Service in Accra, Dr Sumney identified three levels of vocational education-junior secondary, senior secondary and tertiary-with different for vocational and technical training, as well as talent specialized secondary, technical education. The theme for this year’s celebration was: ‘ Solution for Graduate Unemployment.’ Dr Sumney said there should also be a skill workers’ college, which would consist of building, mason army, carpentry, roofing, tiles, painting and decorations, real estate development, Engineering, auto and bodyworker, auto electronics aiming at training secondary-level skill workers. He challenged Africa leaders to apply what he called ‘Africa herbs to immunize ourselves against these viruses.’

Source: Ghana News Agency

May 31, 2023

WaterAid advocates increase investment in menstrual health, hygiene

Bolgatanga, May 31, GNA-WaterAid Ghana, a Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) focused organisation, has underscored the urgent need for strategic and increased investment towards ensuring menstrual health and hygiene at all levels. That, the organisation said, would help to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. WaterAid Ghana therefore called for investment in research to produce quality and hygienic reusable sanitary pads to make sanitary pads affordable to vulnerable rural women and girls as part of measures to combat the rising prices of menstrual products. It also advocated the government through the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to make adequate budgetary allocations to provide WASH infrastructure, especially at public places including schools and healthcare facilities to enhance convenience and hygiene. Ms Ewurabena Yanyi-Akofur, the Country Director of WaterAid Ghana, made the suggestions at the commemoration of this year’s Menstrual Hygiene Day, held at Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region on the theme, ‘We Are Committed’. It was organised by WaterAid Ghana as part of the implementation of a five-year Sexual Health and Reproductive Education (SHARE) project being rolled out in the Kassena-Nankana and Builsa North Municipals, Kassena-Nankana West and Bongo Districts. A consortium led by Right to play, an NGO, in partnership with WaterAid Ghana, Forum for African Women Educationalists (FAWE) and FHI360 are implementing the project with funding support from the Global Affairs Canada. Ms Yanyi-Akofur explained that people were being left behind in the attainment of the SDGs especially goal three and four which put emphasis on good health and wellbeing, and quality inclusive education for all by 2030 respectively and called for action to address it. She said apart from intensifying education for traditional authorities to modify certain aspects of the culture that gave rise to discrimination and stigmatisation due to menstruation, there was the need for collaboration to help make sanitary pads affordable for rural poor women and girls. ‘There have been arguments around the health of reusable sanitary pads but that does not stop us from using research and technology to see how we can improve it to make it affordable for women and girls. ‘We are also asking government, MMDAs, and Ghana Education Service to invest in WASH in our schools, healthcare facilities and our homes so that there will be sustainable water and sanitation facilities for young girls to have their privacy to change and comfortably take care of themselves when they are in their menses,’ she said. Naba Baba Salifu Atamale Lemyaarum, the Paramount Chief of the Bongo Traditional Area, urged the government to scrap the 20 per cent luxury tax placed on sanitary pads to make it affordable to many girls across the country. In a speech, read on his behalf, Mr Stephen Yakubu, the Upper East Regional Minister noted that menstruation was a normal cycle in young women, however, it had over the years been overlooked with misconceptions and myths furthering their plight. He identified the inability of girls to afford menstrual products such as sanitary pads as one of the factors that encouraged them to engage in transactional sex leading to the increase cases of teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS.

Source: Ghana News Agency

May 31, 2023

Cameroon Cup 2023: Hilltop Strikers create major upset to join PWD in 16th Finals.

The first round of the 2023 Cup of Cameroon rounded up on Monday, May 29th with major surprises recorded.

Hilltop Strikers of Bamendakwe is the only team from the North West Regional League that qualified for the next round after beating Gazelle FA of Garoua 5-4 after post penalties. The game ended in a 4-4 draw after regular time.

Hilltop Strikers will face Foudre of Akonolinga in the next round of the competition. Foudre eliminated elite 2 side Unisport of Bafang.

Another major upset in this 32nd finals was the Elimination of Dragon of Yaoundé by a Stade of Bandjoun, a team from the West Regional League. The team thrashed Dragon 4-0 to book her place in the 16th finals where she will face Bamboutos FC of Mbouda in a West Regional clash.

Full Results of the 32nd Finals of the Cameroon Cup 2023 and 16th Finals fixtures.

Aigle royal of Menoua (0-0, : 3-4) Edu SA.

Avion of Nkam 1-0 Ngaoundéré FC

Stade Bertoua 2-1 Sahel of Maroua

Colombe 5-0 Léopard of Douala

Victoria United 2-1Rainbow FC

Racing of Bafoussam 1-0 Njalla Quan

Canon Yaoundé 2-1 Lumière FC

Pwd bamenda 7-1 Dream Olympic

Eding sport 5-0 Ngaoundal Academy

Coton sport 4-0 Yong sport

Krimi FC 1-0 Ofta of kribi

Djiko 4-0 FC Bamenda

CFC de Garoua ( 3-0 walk-over ) UMS

Fovu baham 6-3 Abong mbang FC

Apejes 5-0 Best Talent Sport

Fauve Azur 2-0 Épervier of Ebolowa

Renaissance 2-4 Futuro of Yaoundé

Dynamo 2-0 Caïman

Union (3-0 walk-over) Rangers

Fap 4-0 Sable FC

Astres 2-1 AS Nylon

Foncha Street 0-0 (3-4) Atlantic of Kribi

Unisport 1-2 Foudre of Akonolinga

Lausanne (0-3 Walk-over) South West 1

Gazelle 4-4 (4-5) Hilltop Strikers

Bamboutos FC 2-2 (6-5) Africa FA

Stade Renard 4-0 Santos of Koza

AS Fortuna 2-1 Volcan of Noun

YAFOOT 0-0 (4-5) Pouma FC

TKC 7-3 Espoir of Mogode

Aigle of Moungo 1-0 Academie of Nyom.

Here are 16 finals fixtures.

EDU SA vs CFC of Garoua

Djiko FC vs Canon

Bamboutos FC vs Stade of Bandjoun

PWD vs Fauve Azur

Coton vs APEJES

Hilltop Strikers vs Foudre of Akonolinga

Racing vs Victoria United

Futuro of Yaoundé vs UNION

FAP vs Atlantic of Kribi

Eding vs Krimi FC

Aigle of Moungo vs Avion

Stade of Bertoua vs TKC

Pouma FC vs Colombe

Dynamo vs South West 1

Fovu vs Astres

Stade Renard vs AS Fortuna

Source: Cameroon News Agency

May 31, 2023

Government predicts USD 106 bln strategy for energy by 2050

The government announced a total investment of US$106 for electricity sector by 2050, according to the proposed goal as part of the Long-Term Strategy (ELP Angola – 2050).

The document, which does not show the amounts invested in 2022, predicts that US$15 billion will be invested by 2030 and a total of US$106 billion until 2050.

In order to attain the vision of increasing electrification, it will be necessary to invest in renewable energies and stimulate private initiative in the energy sector.

The strategy points to solutions such as rationalising the system and making it financially sustainable, adjusting tariff subsidies and reducing commercial losses, expanding the on-grid/on-grid system and universalising access to electricity and creating off-grid/off-grid solutions.

In this chapter on solutions, the document indicates that the system will be rationalised to ensure financial sustainability, reviewing tariff subsidies and reducing commercial losses.

As for electricity prices, the ELP refers to a convergence with the real costs of the system.

The ELP has also announced defined that will progressively reduce the level of tariff subsidisation, considering different price models to guarantee a tariff revision that does not compromise the social balance, resorting, namely, to the adjustment of consumption tariffs.

When reviewing tariffs, within the scope of the strategy, vulnerable groups such as low-income families, pensioners and disabled citizens will be taken into account, applying compensatory measures to avoid harmful effects.

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Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

May 31, 2023

Angola takes important steps toward fight against corruption

Angolan minister of Justice and Human Rights Marcy Lopes said Wednesday that Angola has taken significant steps in the fight against corruption, as part of governmental and legislative profound reform.

The minister was speaking at the opening ceremony of the Regional Conference on Combating Corruption, which brings together, in Luanda, the member countries of the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), around anti-corruption priorities.

In his speech, Marcy Lopes said that President João Lourenço made and continues to make the crack down on corruption one of the fundamental aspects of his governance, initiating profound reforms at the governmental and legislative level, as well as the creation of new services dedicated to combat this phenomenon.

The official underlined the presentation of the National Strategy Project for the Prevention and Fight against Corruption (ENAPREC) and its corresponding public consultation from 18 April to 18 May of the current year.

According to him, the approval of ENAPREC aims to achieve, among other objectives, the reduction of corruption rates by promoting integrity, transparency and improving the provision of services in the public and private sectors, transparency in management of public affairs and the involvement of citizens in the prevention and repression of corruption.

Marcy Lopes, who was speaking on behalf of the President of the Republic, João Lourenço, stressed that the fight against corruption is not and should not be viewed as something exclusive and designed for the holders of political offices.

“On the contrary, it must have a wide scope to reach both the top and the bottom of public services. Only in this way will we, in fact, have good governance, a good State and a good society”, said the minister, to whom corruption is an evil that needs to be prevented, monitored and fought.

He appealed to the countries of the SADC region to take measures to, together, overcome the challenge of fighting corruption in an organised, articulated and cooperative way.

“It is necessary that we all look at corruption as one of the main causes of impediment to the development of societies. Only united and coordinated with other countries will we overcome this problem”, he stressed.

According to the organisation, the objective of the conference is to find an agreement on the common roadmap for all SADC members, containing a set of recommendations and commitments for the realization of anti-corruption priorities.

The conference focuses on thematic areas identified as priorities for the SADC region, namely national and regional coordination and public procurement.

The aim is for participating countries to hold, firstly, detailed technical meetings and, secondly, to develop a list of priority commitments to enhance the implementation of a convention in their countries, to be approved at the conference.

Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)

May 31, 2023

Attorney General’s Office vows to crack down on corruption in private sector

Angola is busy preparing the Extraordinary Summit of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR), scheduled for Saturday (3) in Luanda.

For the preparation, the Angolan top diplomat Téte António and the ambassadors of Zambia, Republic of Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda and representatives from Tanzania and Sudan met on Tuesday in Luanda.

In addition to take stock of the tasks preceding the summit and preparing the agenda, the meeting discussed issues related to the peace and security in the region.

The summit will bring together Heads of State and Government, or their representatives.

The event will also gather entities linked to the African Union Commission, the United Nations Secretariat, the ICGLR, the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), and the East African Community (EAC).

Created in 1994, following the political and military conflicts that marked the Great Lakes region in the early 1990s, the organisation integrates Angola, Burundi, the Central African Republic (CAR), Democratic Republics of Congo (DRC), Republic of Congo, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia.

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Source: Angola Press News Agency (APNA)